A brighter future for the Magpies?

Two defeats, injuries to two key defenders and their playmaker suspended - somebody forgot to put out the welcome mat out for Newcastle on their return to the top flight.

Manager Rafael Benitez, who guided them back to the promised land, suggested this week that he does not plan to stay at the Magpies for too long.

However, in the short time he has been at St James' Park, he has endeared himself to the fans - so much so that they were chanting his name prior to the goal when the home side were creating very little.

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They recognise that Benitez appears to have done the best with what little transfer budget he has. Against West Ham, it was the system he played and the determination his players showed which won the day.

Both Ritchie and Isaac Hayden were exceptional with their dogged work in midfield, especially ex-Bournemouth winger Ritchie.

He forced midfielder Declan Rice into losing possession which resulted in the opener. The loose ball found its way to Merino, who played a beautifully-weighted pass for Atsu. The Ghana winger squared the ball for Joselu, who poked in under pressure.

The Magpies increased their lead when Scot Ritchie's cross from the right found defender Clark, who nodded in. And then Mitrovic, perhaps lucky not to see a card for a stray arm which caught Manuel Lanzini, added the third after Newcastle had again pinched the ball from West Ham in their final third.

Hammers teenager learns harsh lesson

West Ham's Joe Hart - who made five saves - was kept busy in the second half

Rice, 18, was taken off at half-time, seemingly because his confidence was shattered after the mistake that led to Newcastle's opener.

He was consoled by Hart straight after the goal, but the teenager knew the significance of his mistake in a side that was also short of confidence.

Their best chances came after the break when Rob Elliot blocked Aaron Cresswell's effort and took the sting out of Javier Hernandez's follow-up before Clark cleared the ball off the line.

The international break will give Hammers boss Slaven Bilic time to work out why it is not clicking for his side.

'It was a game of mistakes' - reaction

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Newcastle worked hard for win - Benitez

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "When you are losing it is difficult, when you are winning everyone is happy.

"We won with everyone trying so hard. The fans were crucial last year and they have to be crucial this year - they are trying to help. I think I have some friends in the stands.

"I said before that Joselu needed to be fit. He did well. It was a great effort. Matt Ritchie is an important player - the way he works is an example for the others.

"We will try and bring in players that will give us something different. We know these players."

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West Ham did not look good - Bilic

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "We made a mistake that led to their first goal and it gave them a boost.

"We came back in the second half and we better in the first 10 minutes, but it's a game of mistakes. We didn't play good. They were the better side. The goals helped them. They deserved those goals because they pressured high up the pitch.

"We have to admit they were better in everything, especially in determination and wanting to win second balls and making a transition when doing that. We didn't deserve anything. We had a midweek game but that had nothing to do with today's performance.

"We are trying to be active [in the transfer market] still but I was happy with the team, it was just the performance that was not good. We can talk about the away games but I expected a lot, lot more."

Man of the match - Matt Ritchie (Newcastle)

Why is he not a regular in the Scotland team? Against West Ham, Matt Ritchie was a dynamo - he covered more turf (10.34km) than any other player, bar Merino (11.21km), and made more sprints than any other player (57)

Hart not keeping it clean - the stats

West Ham have lost all three of their Premier League games this season - the last time that they did this was in 2010-11, when they finished bottom

This was Newcastle's 18th Premier League win against West Ham - only against Aston Villa (22) and Tottenham (21) have they won more often

This was the 18th time (in 79 games) that West Ham have conceded three or more goals in a Premier League match under Slaven Bilic, including all three games this season

Mitrovic has scored five and provided assists for two more in his last 10 Premier League appearances

It is now 22 league appearances without a clean sheet for Hart (Premier League and Serie A combined) - last keeping one on 8 January for Torino against Sassuolo

In fact, Hart has conceded 20 goals in his last six appearances in league competition

Joselu has now scored in five different Premier League matches and has ended on the winning side on each occasion

Joselu became the fourth different Spanish player to net a Premier League goal for Newcastle, after Ayoze Perez (13), Albert Luque (1) and Xisco (1)

What's next?

Newcastle are at Swansea on Sunday, 10 September (16:00 BST) after the resumption and the Hammers host Huddersfield on Monday, 11 September (20:00).